In a tragic incident, Archana, a 14-year-old student from Morarji Desai Government Residential School in Haveri district, took her own life on July 2. Archana, who resided in Aladakatti village of Hirekerur taluk, hanged herself at home, leaving a note accusing her classmate Zoya and Zoya’s mother of causing her distress.
Following Archana’s death, her family conducted her final rites without notifying the police. The incident only came to light when villagers informed the media after finding the death note. Consequently, the police, accompanied by a medical team, exhumed Archana’s body and conducted a postmortem at the graveyard on Friday.
Archana’s family, supported by several villagers, demanded a compensation of Rs 5 lakh from Zoya’s parents. The school management intervened, convincing them to settle for Rs 1 lakh. The police have stated that the investigation will explore all angles of the case.
The exhumation and subsequent autopsy were overseen by senior government officials from Haveri district, drawing a large crowd of villagers to the graveyard. After the autopsy, Archana’s body was returned to her family for reburial.
For those struggling with suicidal thoughts or in need of emotional support, help is available. Call Sneha Foundation at 04424640050, Tele Manas at 14416 (available 24×7), or iCall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences’ helpline, at 02225521111 (Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 10 pm).